Berry Peach Cobbler with a Lemon and Vanilla Crust

Berry Peach Cobbler (0010) by Meeta K. Wolff

Summer break has come and gone already. It was not long ago we were eagerly counting down the days to spending two relaxing weeks in Gozo. Excited with anticipation of discovering a new country and just happy to know that the three of us would be together for the entire two weeks. I admit there was anxiety too. Anxiety knowing that the three of us sounds just right in theory but practically we were out of practice being together for such a long period.

Our routine had taken over our lives and although we seemed to be together, walking the same path, we moved ahead individually. Tom, busy from Mondays to Fridays in Stockholm, while Soeren and I created our own hub, tending to work, school, chores and projects in Weimar. Friday evenings were filled with elation and commotion as we looked forward to Tom’s arrival. Greeted at the door like a traveler who has been on a journey of a lifetime, we would gather around him waiting to hear of his adventures. Tom on the other hand, returned weary and disheartened, like a warrior coming home after fighting bureaucratic battles knowing that in two days time he would have to return to the battlefield.

How does one pack all that makes up a family into a weekend?

Berry Peach Cobbler (0027) by Meeta K. Wolff 
It’s difficult and it does not always work. While each one fights to get the attention from the other, at the same time each one flees to take time out to recuperate from the week gone.

“I know you often fall short,“ he said “sorry!”

Mostly I would shrug it off with my usual sense of humor, but sometimes I was resentful and would want to scream out “Yes I do!” and then pout for the rest of the day, even though I understood the reason. These conflicting emotions, I was certain, were felt by him too.

Berry Peach Cobbler (0007) by Meeta K. Wolff

Therefore, the vacation was to be our sanctuary. A way to patch up the emotional holes made when we cross the valleys and climb the peaks of a partnership. The two weeks breezed past but they did us good as a family. We were inseparable; chattering, joking, laughing and soaking up being together.

We have fallen back into our routine again, tackling each week as it depletes into the next one, however we are holding on to the feeling that bonded us in those two weeks, trying hard that none of us falls short of each other.

Berry Peach Cobbler (0005) by Meeta K. Wolff 
The two weeks we have been back have passed by in a blur. I have been busy working on a photography project and a feature with a German magazine, while juggling Soeren’s switch to a German school and preparing for his birthday. He turns 9 tomorrow and is celebrating with his old and some new friends on Sunday so, my kitchen is abuzz.

In between there are other treats for the three of us. Sweet, baked treats that pull us together to enjoy the rich, juicy fruit summer offers. Berries and peaches have been plentiful this season and I love using them in crisps, clafoutis or cobblers. They are so irresistible and easy to prepare and make excellent use of fruits at the height of their season. Cobblers are purely sensational, fruit topped with a crust and baked, they are somewhere between a pie and scones. In my cobbler I used a plethora of berries and paired them with sweet peaches. The biscuit crust is buttery and tangy with a hint of lemon zest infused with rich vanilla, highlighting the fruit perfectly.

Recipe: Berry Peach Cobbler with a Lemon and Vanilla Crust

Printable version of recipe here

BerryPeachCobbler_0006-250px

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

    For fruit
  • 5 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
  • 350g mixed berries of choice
  • 65g muscovado sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    For topping
  • 50g all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 115g butter
  • Pinch of fleur de sel
  • 95g muscovado sugar (reserve about 1 teaspoon) 
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 vanilla bean, inside scraped out

Method:

    For fruit
  1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Lightly butter a 20x20 cm square baking dish.

  2. In a large mixing bowl mix fruit, berries, sugar and cornstarch together and allow the sugar to dissolve. Let sit for approx. 5 minutes. Transfer to the baking dish.

    For topping
  3. In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, fleur de sel. Set aside. In a large bowl beat butter and sugar with and electric whisk, until cream, smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla and mix well.

  4. Add the flour mixture and mix quickly until just moist and the dough begins to come together.

  5. Spoon dough on top of the fruit, spacing evenly. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar. 

  6. Bake until topping is golden and juices are bubbling, about 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.

  7. Serve with creamy vanilla ice cream.


Verdict

Berry Peach Cobbler (0006) by Meeta K. Wolff

We are very definitely fruit and crust type of a family and the all American cobbler makes such a brilliant alternative to a pie. What I love about the cobbler is that it relies more on taste than fancy pastry making and while I have no grudges towards a pie crust, sometimes I just want to have maximum tasting pleasure rather than spend a lot of time kneading up the dough.

The muscovado sugar gives the fruit extra depth and a gorgeous caramel-like flavor making each bite irresistible. Vanilla and lemon accentuate the biscuit crust and a little sprinkling of the sugar over the crust just before it goes in the oven guarantees feather-light biscuits emphasized by a golden crunch.

The rest of the week here is going to be filled with a lot of chocolate and caramel as we celebrate a big 9! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and enjoy your family!

More fruity ideas from WFLH:

Crumble - Rhubarb Mango Pistachio and Amaretti Clafoutis - Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Vanilla Poached Plums and Blueberry Granola Goat Cheese Cream Verrines


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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40 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous cobbler! Such a combination is just heavenly.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. This looks gorgeous Meeta. I love blackberries and there are buckets of them to be picked right now so we are stocking the freezer full.
    Our kids go back to school next week so a little bit of relaxing to be had this weekend and then back to blissful routine for us all!

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  3. Beautiful and super yumm. Wish i had a bowl right now even though it is just morning.

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  4. I am definately a fruit and crust type of person! Haha... this cobbler looks delicious and I've never tried to mix berries and peaches together! Seems to be a great combination.

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  5. Berry peach tastes good with the lemon added to the recipe.

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  6. First time going through your blog and love it..It's simply awesome..hats off to you.!! Hope you guys have a blast on your son's birthday!!

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  7. I can only imagine how hard it can be at times having such busy lives and not being able to see each other face to face everyday... Glad your holiday was so good!
    And well, this dish again... can I have some? Please?

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  8. Gorgeous cobbler! the combination is just divine. And a very happy birthday to S!

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  9. Nine? Wow! Happy birthday, Soeren! I'd be very happy to pass up cake in favor of this cobbler if it were my birthday.

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  10. Wow! The pictures are amazing (i featured some of them on my WeHeartIt account). Ans it seems delicious! Thanks for the recipe. I'll try it one of these days.

    Regards,

    Geoff.

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  11. The lemon and vanilla crust is what caught my eye Meeta, and your day to day life is what captured my heart. For 10 years we struggled with the same lifestyle with my daughter and I carrying on during the week.

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  12. Excellent blog & nice pictures. I can't wait to try this recipe.

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  13. Lovely Meeta. The cobbler looks delicious. Glad you got to spend some quality time together as a family too.

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  14. That sounds very taste with a lemon vanilla crust. Nice twist on the typical cobbler.

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  15. Wonderful cobbler! Wish I had some right now!! Hope you're enjoying your week!

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  16. Just printed out the recipe so will be making this in a bit... but only have peaches...

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  17. Oh I do love a good cobbler! There is something about the way that the dollops of pastry absorb the sweet fruity juices from below that is just irresistible. Gorgeous pics too - and pls give S a huge hug from his "Arnie John" tomorrow ;o)

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  18. Love your blog, Meeta! - from a new reader hooked by your photos, creative recipes, and excellent insight on life.

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  19. Gorgeous dessert and I love the crust!

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  20. Those berries look luscious and that drip in the bowl makes me want to lick it clean. Love the lemon vanilla crust! Can't even imagine how difficult to stay away from each other for the entire week.

    and yes Happy Birthday to Soeren!

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  21. Yummy! Looks really delicious so mouth watering indeed.

    My kids will love this.

    -Cristine

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  22. This is amazing! I'm quite glad that I read your blog since you concoct the most amazing things! Have a good one and cheers!

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  23. gorgeously beautiful pics and gorgeous dessert too! Happy birthday to Soeren!

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  24. What a truly lovely recipe, one that is bound to be repeated and tweaked year after year. I adore comforting fruity puds like this :) and Happy 9th Birthday Soeren! :)

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  25. Happy birthday to your son! Could totally relate to 'falling short' so many times..haha..and the cobblers look perfect;-)

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  26. Thank you all for the lovely wishes to Soeren's birthday - he feels really special after reading the comments. So glad you are all liking the cobbler recipe - I too love the hint of flavoring in the crust - it makes such a wonderful difference. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

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  27. As always your photos blow me away! Gorgeous. And I too love cobblers. It is so much easier than dealing with pie dough--even though I do have a soft spot for that too. I love the flavor combination of peaches and berries--yum! And the vanilla lemon crust sounds awesome. I have a feeling I could just eat spoonfuls of that.

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  28. Beautiful cobbler! With all those sweet ripe fruits how can it not taste heavenly!

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  29. Dear Meeta...following your blog for some time now -- my family has been stuck in a similar place for a while now -- thanks for sharing your thoughts, it helps to see what others do to cope with the situation, seeds for new great ideas...I think I'll bake a cobbler!
    Cheers!
    Roni

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  30. Hi Meeta,
    Its difficult to get bread flour in India. So please post a whole wheat and white bread recipe for Indians in India.
    Also a recipe to make kathal ki
    biriyani and eggless cookies and cakes.

    Thanks,
    Nandu

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  31. This is beautiful, Meeta - I so want to live in your kitchen/photography studio off the leftover scraps from your creations!

    I hope one day we get to meet.

    Jax x

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  32. It's all about balance Meeta and I think you do a splendid job of making it all happen (along with your hubby of course). The cobbler looks beautiful...perfect for a family gathering!

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  33. What a gorgeous space you have...I have spent the last two hours just looking at blogs with absolutely brilliant photography....yours is truely amazing and I really enjoyed reading your post. Lots to learn...I am now hooked on to your space..

    -Shilpa

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  34. I first tasted cobbler in my first year as a fresh new immigrant in the US at the home of friends in California and I remember the experience with delight; she had made a peach cobbler with wheat flour and honey and the contrast with the tangy fruit and vanilla ice-cream was a pure delight; love yours as it has the same qualities and of course photographs so well!

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  35. Hi Meeta,

    congratulations for you and your son. Nine years is a very special age!

    Best regards from a fan of yours and a Portuguese food blogger,

    Laranjinha.

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  36. Love the cobbler...!
    Lucky you got to spend some time with your family....

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  37. This berry peach cobbler with a lemon and vanilla crust looks wonderful. Thanks for the recipe.

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  38. Happy Birthday to your son and good luck to him with the change of schools :)
    Your cobbler is just delightful Meeta, beautiful!

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta